Nanpi County Travel

Nanpi County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province — an "ancient county south of the capital" with a history of over 2,700 years, is the hometown of Zhang Zhidong, a prominent minister of the late Qing Dynasty. It boasts historical relics such as the Ancient Picheng Ruins and Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence, combining celebrity culture and folk customs. A 2-day 1-night tour allows you to touch the thousand-year cultural context and taste the rural charm of eastern Hebei.

2700+

Years of County Establishment

3A-Class Scenic Area

Core Attractions

10+

Specialty Foods

Panoramic View of Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence in Nanpi County, Cangzhou City

Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence - Icon of Nanpi Celebrities

A landmark cultural building in Nanpi County, the birthplace of Zhang Zhidong, a prominent minister of the late Qing Dynasty. It retains the courtyard pattern of the Qing Dynasty, with exhibitions of Zhang Zhidong's life, calligraphy works and daily necessities, showing his thought of "Chinese learning as the body, Western learning as the function" and his lifelong achievements.

2-Day 1-Night Celebrity Culture Tour of Nanpi County

Visit Zhang's former residence to understand the wisdom of a famous minister, explore the ruins of ancient Picheng to trace the customs of the Warring States Period, wander around Xiangtao Park to commemorate the achievements of the ancestors, and taste wotou and steamed buns to experience local flavors

                    
Trip Duration
2 Days 1 Night

                    
Main Destinations
Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence, Ancient Picheng Ruins, Xiangtao Park, Nanpi Museum

                    
Suitable For
History Enthusiasts, Cultural Research Groups, Parent-Child Families, Food Explorers

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥280-¥500

Hometown of Celebrities

Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence & Memorial Hall · Ancient Picheng Ruins · Wumaying Town Folk Village

Itinerary Highlights

Visit Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence in the morning to appreciate the demeanor of the famous minister of the late Qing Dynasty; explore the Ancient Picheng Ruins in the afternoon to trace the history of the Warring States Period ancient city; wander around Wumaying Folk Village in the evening to experience intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and farm-style food.

Attraction Arrangement

Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence and Memorial Hall

The core cultural attraction of Nanpi County, consisting of a Qing Dynasty former residence and a modern memorial hall. The former residence retains the original courtyard pattern, with grey brick and tile, simple and elegant; the memorial hall has exhibitions such as "Zhang Zhidong's Life Exhibition" and "Westernization Movement Exhibition", showing his historical achievements in presiding over the Westernization Movement and founding industrial enterprises, with a collection of replicas of his manuscripts and memorials to the throne.

Ancient Picheng Ruins

Ancient city ruins from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty, built by Duke Huan of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period, and the origin of the name Nanpi County. Existing relics include residual city wall sections and rammed earth platforms, with cultural relics such as Warring States bronze swords and Han Dynasty pottery unearthed. Information boards beside the ruins introduce the history and layout of the ancient city, making it an important physical object for studying ancient cities in eastern Hebei.

Wumaying Town Folk Village

A village featuring traditional folk customs, retaining Ming and Qing style dwellings, with a performance venue for Nanpi Luozi (intangible cultural heritage), a traditional farm tool museum, farm restaurants, etc. Visitors can experience making Nanpi wotou, paper-cutting, embroidery, etc., and feel the folk customs of eastern Hebei.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Budget Hotels in the County Center
Homestays near Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence
Farmhouses in Wumaying Town

Food Recommendations

Nanpi Wotou (Millet Flour)
Nanpi Steamed Buns (Pork and Chives Filling)
Braised Donkey Meat
Wumaying Braised Dishes

Travel Tips

Zhang Zhidong Memorial Hall has scheduled free explanations (10:00/15:00)
The Ancient Picheng Ruins have dense vegetation, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothing to prevent mosquito bites
Nanpi Luozi performances are held at 14:00 and 19:00 every day in the folk village, arrive in advance

Cultural Leisure

Xiangtao Park · Nanpi Museum · Dalangdian Reservoir · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

Stroll through Xiangtao Park in the morning to cherish the memory of Zhang Zhidong's achievements; visit Nanpi Museum in the afternoon to systematically understand local history; go to Dalangdian Reservoir in the afternoon to enjoy natural ecology, buy local specialties and return.

Attraction Arrangement

Xiangtao Park

An urban park named after Zhang Zhidong (style name Xiangtao), covering an area of 200 mu (about 13.3 hectares). It has a statue of Zhang Zhidong, a Study Promotion Pavilion, a relief wall of the Westernization Movement, etc., integrating garden landscapes and celebrity culture. The park is shaded by green trees and surrounded by lakes, serving as a place for citizens to relax and tourists to cherish the memory of the ancestors.

Nanpi Museum

A comprehensive local museum with a collection of more than 500 cultural relics. It has exhibitions such as "Ancient Picheng History Exhibition", "Zhang Zhidong and Nanpi Exhibition", "Folk Customs Exhibition", displaying Warring States pottery, Han Dynasty bronze mirrors, Ming and Qing folk artifacts, etc., systematically showing the development context of Nanpi from the pre-Qin period to modern times.

Dalangdian Reservoir

An important water conservancy project and natural landscape in Nanpi County, with a water area of 10 square kilometers, known as the "big water tank" of Cangzhou City. There are lakeside trails and viewing platforms around, where visitors can fish and birdwatch. Lotus flowers are in full bloom in summer, with beautiful scenery, showing an ecological picture of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Xiangtao Park can be reached directly by taking No.1 bus in the county
Nanpi Museum is a 15-minute walk from Xiangtao Park
Dalangdian Reservoir requires self-driving or taxi from the county (about 30 minutes)

Ticket Information

Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence and Memorial Hall: ¥20 per person
Ancient Picheng Ruins: Free
Xiangtao Park: Free
Nanpi Museum: Free (ID card required)
Dalangdian Reservoir: Free (Parking fee ¥5)

Travel Tips

There are morning exercise activities in Xiangtao Park in the early morning, you can experience local life
The museum offers weekend research activities (reservation 1 day in advance required)
Swimming is prohibited in Dalangdian Reservoir, fishing is only allowed in designated areas

Must-Try Foods in Nanpi County

Nanpi Wotou (Steamed Cornbread)

A traditional staple food in Nanpi County, made from millet flour and cornmeal, added with red date puree or soybean flour, hand-kneaded into a cone shape and steamed. It has a soft and slightly sweet taste with a rich rice aroma. Originally a common food for farmers, it has been improved to become a local specialty, symbolizing "being down-to-earth".

Nanpi Steamed Buns

A special snack in Nanpi County, with leavened dough as the wrapper and fillings such as pork and chives, three fresh vegetarian fillings, etc. It is known for "thin wrapper, abundant filling, and even folds like chrysanthemum". After steaming, the bun wrapper is white and soft, with rich soup when bitten, famous for Zhang Zhidong's praise of "taste better than that in the capital" in the late Qing Dynasty, and is a common food for local breakfast and banquets.

Nanpi Braised Donkey Meat

A traditional meat dish in Nanpi County, using locally raised donkey meat, braised with more than 10 kinds of spices for several hours. The meat is tender but not tough, with a rich braised aroma. It can be eaten directly after slicing or stuffed into baked wheat cakes, being a premium product for local festivals and receiving guests, known as "dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground".

Wumaying Braised Dishes

A representative farmhouse dish in Wumaying Town, Nanpi, stewing pork belly, Chinese cabbage, tofu, vermicelli and other ingredients in one pot. It emphasizes "slow stewing on low heat, blending flavors", with rich soup and soft, flavorful ingredients, reflecting the dietary wisdom of "one pot of freshness" of northern farmers, warming the body and going well with rice.

Nanpi County Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (April-May): Flowers bloom in Xiangtao Park, suitable for spring outings and outdoor activities
Autumn (September-October): Clear sky and fresh air, suitable for visiting historical sites and tasting autumn harvest foods
Special Recommendation: Nanpi Luozi performances on the 15th day of the first lunar month, experience intangible cultural heritage culture

Must-Try Foods

Nanpi Wotou (Laomianfang in the county seat)
Nanpi Steamed Buns (Zhang's Steamed Bun Shop on Guangming West Road)
Braised Donkey Meat (Century-Old Braised Shop in Wumaying Town)
Wumaying Braised Dishes (Farmhouse Courtyard in Folk Village)
Nanpi Tangqiu (Sugar-Coated Hawthorn)

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥20 (main attractions)
Accommodation: ¥80-130 per night (homestay/budget hotel)
Catering: ¥30-60 per day
Transportation: About ¥30 (transportation within the county)
Total: ¥280-500

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a guide service at Zhang Zhidong's Former Residence? → Yes, there are scheduled free explanations, and audio guide devices are also available for rent (¥15 per device)
Where to watch Nanpi Luozi performances? → At the County Cultural Square during the Lantern Festival, and can be booked at the Folk Village on weekdays
Is Ancient Picheng Ruins suitable for children? → Yes, it allows children to learn about ancient history, but children need to be supervised
Can I have a picnic at Dalangdian Reservoir? → Picnics are allowed in designated areas, bring your own garbage bags for waste